Mapperley’s Gold Medal Winner – 1912

One of the most satisfying aspects of managing the Mapperley People page is the enthusiasm of local people to help others in researching and identifying family history. 

After the death of his ‘Nan’, Robin Phillips was sorting through her personal effects and discovered an item which puzzled him. Lying at the bottom of a bureau in her Warrington home was a gold medal, about the size of a pound coin.

Robin, who lives in Wales, had no idea why his ‘Nan’ had it, other than she had mentioned being given some items at some point by a friend named Edna. Determined to find out more about the medal, he resorted to the internet. All he had to go on was the inscription, which read:

St Andrew’s Institute Golf Club – Division I – Won By E.M CUTTS – April 1912

When he entered the name St Andrew’s Institute Golf Club, he learnt that this was the original name of Mapperley Golf Club in Nottingham. As soon as he made contact with the club, they were interested and Robin kindly made arrangements for this piece of club history to be returned to Mapperley.

One question though, remained unanswered:

Who Was E M Cutts?

Mapperley Golf Club contacted Mapperley People who asked its readers for help.

They didn’t disappoint. Local family history researcher Meg Hartford came up with lots of information about Edwin Miles CUTTS.

Edwin Miles CUTTS was born in 1875 at Nottingham. The census of 1881 showed that 5 year old Edwin lived at Rye Hill Cottages in the Meadows area of Nottingham. His parents were John and Annie CUTTS and his father was employed as a warehouse man. Rye Hill Cottages were off Kirk White Street East, which ran between Arkwright Street and London Road (opposite Cattle Market Road).

In 1891, with Edwin aged 15, the family was living at 17 Rookwood Road in the St Anns area of Nottingham. This was off Hungerhill Road and is now replaced by Broad Oak Close. 

In May 1900, Edwin married Ada Adelaide Dobson. Ada was born on 11 June 1874. 

The census of 1901 showed Edwin and Ada were living at 18 Blue Bell Hill Road in St Anns. Edwin was now employed as an office manager. Later that year their only child (a daughter) Edna Madge CUTTS was born on 26th November.

By 1911 the family had moved to 12 St Jude’s Avenue in Mapperley. Edwin was now employed as a  warehouse manager in the hosiery trade. He worked for the knitwear company Cooper and Roe on Roden Street near Sneinton Market. He was much respected at the company and had been with them for many years. 

A Keen Golfer

Local historian Bob Massey told us more about Edwin’s success as an amateur golfer.

By 1909 the St Andrews Institute Golf Club was really well established, joining the

Nottinghamshire Union of Golf Clubs for a £1 subscription.

Edwin represented the club in several recorded matches. He was in the A team of 1910 playing against Bulwell Forest Golf Club, beating Mr J Scott 4 and 3. The two teams played again in 1912 and Edwin again beat his opponent Mr A Walnman (3 and 3). On both occasions St Andrews lost the team match but Edwin was one of their star players. 

It appears that by 1912 Edwin had established himself as one of the best players at Mapperley, beating Mr A E Thorpe in the final of the Morley Cup (3 and 2) . Although this particular competition had only been played four times, Edwin had won it on three occasions. His achievements were important enough at the time to merit a small paragraph in the local newspaper.

His success against Bulwell Forest was not repeated in the 1913 match, as he lost his match against Mr J L Hewis who was one up. Bulwell Forest again won the team match. Edwin did not play in the 1914 match against Bulwell. 

The Great War And Tragedy Strikes

On the outbreak of the Great War, Edwin was too old to serve. He remained in Nottingham but did his bit for the war effort, by becoming a volunteer Special Constable.

Then tragedy struck. Edwin died after a heavy cold developed pneumonia following a cold. He was just 41 years of age.

His funeral was reported in the local newspaper.

29th Dec 1915

Mr E.M CUTTS

Funeral of a well-known Nottingham Gentleman

The interments took place at the Nottingham Church Cemetery yesterday following a service at the residence of the deceased gentleman on St Judes Avenue, Mapperley of Mr E.M. Cutts, who was known to a wide circle of people in the city and district.

For practically the whole of his business life he had been associated with Messrs Cooper and Roe, hosiery manufacturers. He had risen to the management of the Roden Street works of the firms, and the esteem in which he was held was shown by the presence at the funeral of the heads of the firm and a very large number of the work-people.

Mr Cutts was also well known as an amateur golfer, being a member of the Bulwell Hall Club, and he had won a number of trophies in various competitions.

Since the outbreak of the war, Mr Cutts (who was 41 years of age) had been a member of No 4 Company of the Nottingham Special Constabulary, and he was on point duty only two days before the illness set in, which resulted in his death twelve days later, on Friday last. He leaves a widow and a daughter, for whom great sympathy is felt in their bereavement.

Practically the whole of the members of No 4 Company of the Special Constabulary were present at the funeral under Company Commander C.W Judge, and among others noticed were Sir T McCaith (Chairman of the Watch Committee), the Chief Constable (Mr T Clarke), Councillor A B Gibson and Mrs J A Dixon.

History Preserved

Edwin Cutt’s medal was presented to John Spencer (Club Chairman) by Robin Phillips at the Clubhouse on Monday 6th November 2023.

During conversations at the presentation, it transpired that the ‘Edna’ that Robin knew to be a friend of his Nan, was Edna Cutts the only daughter of Edwin and Ada. It also seems that Edna was not just a ‘friend’ but also a distant relative of Robin who was naturally pleased to have learnt more about his family history. Edna must have proudly kept her father’s medal and entrusted her friend to keep it safe. 

Mapperley Golf Club are pleased to have taken possession of Edwin Cutt’s medal, and to have unearthed the story from 1912. It will be kept on display at the club.